Model, Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV), 1:144

Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

In 2004 President George W. Bush announced a new "vision for space exploration" focused on returning to the Moon. NASA responded with a program called Constellation. The plan included a reusable crew launch vehicle blending the best of Apollo and Space Shuttle technology capable of returning astronauts to the Moon. This model represents ATK Thiokol's concept for the crew launch vehicle, a solid rocket booster first stage and a liquid propellant second stage, both derived from the Space Shuttle propulsion system, with an Apollo-type crew module on top.ATK presented this early concept model to the Museum when the vehicle design became more refined.